Abbé Faria

The Abbé Faria is Dantés' savior in prison. When Edmond is arrested, he is ready to kill himself but hears a tapping noise as if someone is digging to escape. What Edmond finds is the Abbé Faria, a priest who everyone thinks is crazy. The Abbé Faria is described as a short, vigorous man who's hair is white from suffering and his beard black and long. His eyes are piercing, under thick eyebrows and his face is thin with deep lines. The Abbé is said to be insane by other prisoners and by the jailers. However, his personality is the exact opposite of this accusation. He is an ingenious and creative man who, like Edmond, was falsely imprisoned. He is able to fashion tools out of his bed frame and make ink and also paper to write his biography. Dantés is blown away by Faria's intelligence and is able to learn a lot from him. Edmond considers Faria a dear friend and is happy he was able to know such an amazing man. Faria explains how he was once a teacher of a rich family. He had been friends of the family for years. He witnessed poisoning of a friend of the family's and slowly watched as the family was ripped apart by deceit and death. Faria then one day found a treasure map to the family's treasure. He tells Dantés, "Half the treasure is yours, my friend," and they plan to escape from prison. They are so close to escape when the Abbé falls ill and almost dies. He tells Dantés to go on without him but Edmond does not want to leave his friend. Finally, he agrees when Faria dies and Edmond escapes. Abbé Faria is the one who made Edmond's revenge possible, however he also was the one that told Dantés, "Revenge will not bring you peace." When Edmond revisits the prison, he is able to have a moment alone with the priest in his presence. He says, "O my second father, you gave me freedom, knowledge, and wealth, had the knowledge of good and evil. I beg you, take away this doubt which, if it turns to conviction, will also become remorse!" (Dumas page 503) Edmond keeps the priest's biography and lives by what Faria taught him for the rest of his life. "Thank you my father. Thank you!" (Dumas page 503)